Federation formulates committee for Punjab division

Lahore: Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza on Thursday announced 12-member parliamentary committee for formation of new provinces in Punjab province. In this regard, notification has been issued which includes names of six senators and six MNAs.

President Asif Zardari had asked the National Assembly speaker to formally initiate the process of carving out two new provinces in southern Punjab – a move aimed at consolidating the Pakistan Peoples Party’s position in the key Seraiki region with parliamentary polls just around the corner.

In his message to the National Assembly, the president asked the speaker to constitute a commission to start the process of creating the new provinces and to also revive the status of Bahawalpur as a province. Earlier Senate Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bukhari had proposed names of six senators to form a Commission for establishment of new provinces in Punjab. Names of two Senators from Pakistan People’s Party‚ and one each from Awami National Party‚ Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam‚ Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Muslim League (Q) have been sent to National Assembly Secretariat. Senator Farhatullah Babar‚ Senator Sughra Imam‚ Senator Haji Adeel‚ Senator Kamil Ali Agha‚ Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Senator Rafiq are included in the proposed list. President Asif Ali Zardari had directed Speaker National Assembly to set up a Commission comprising six parliamentarians for establishing new provinces.